Roku Select Roku - 32" Class Select Series Full HD (1080p) LED Review

Buy it for the brilliant Roku software, not the basic screen. For $130, it's the best small, simple smart TV you can get.

Look, if you need a dead-simple, no-fuss TV for a bedroom, kitchen, or office, the 32-inch Roku Select is your best friend. It's not trying to be a home theater powerhouse, and that's the point. The one thing to know is that you're buying this for the Roku software, not the panel. The smart platform is so good it lands in the 94th percentile in our database, which means it's basically the gold standard for ease of use. Everything else about the hardware is just fine, and that's perfectly okay for $130.

The performance story here is all about the software. The Roku interface launches apps instantly and navigates without a hiccup, which is a huge win for a budget TV. The hardware itself is predictably mid-tier. The 1080p picture quality sits around the 45th percentile, so it's fine for casual viewing but don't expect deep blacks or stunning contrast. Gaming performance is in the 37th percentile with its basic 60Hz refresh rate, so hardcore gamers should look elsewhere. The surprise, honestly, is how much the excellent software makes you forget about the average screen.

For $130, this is an easy yes if your needs are simple. You're paying for a great smart TV experience wrapped in a decent 32-inch screen. It's not the cheapest 32-inch TV out there, but the Roku software is worth the slight premium over a dumb TV or a clunky competitor's smart platform.

Compared to other small TVs, the Roku Select wins on software. An equivalent basic Samsung or LG might have a slightly better panel, but their Tizen or webOS interfaces are often slower and more bloated. If you care more about picture than software, look at TCL's Series 3, which can sometimes be found for a similar price with slightly better contrast. But honestly, for a secondary room TV, the convenience of Roku is the killer feature. The competitors listed in the data (like high-end Sony and LG OLEDs) are in a completely different universe of price and performance and aren't relevant to this TV's budget niche.

If you're looking for a primary living room TV with a beautiful 4K HDR picture, this isn't it. Go get a TCL QM8 or Hisense U6 instead. Also, skip this if you're a serious gamer who needs 120Hz or VRR.

We recommend the Roku Select 32-inch without hesitation for anyone who needs a reliable, small-screen streamer. It does one job—delivering easy access to all your apps—exceptionally well. Don't overthink it. If you're putting a TV in a bedroom, kitchen, dorm, or office, this is the one to get. Just manage your expectations on cinematic picture quality.